Connectors in Fixed Partial

Dentures
Connectors are the components of a fixed partial

dental prosthesis or splints that join the individual

retainers and pontics together.
Classification:

1. Rigid Connectors

2. Non Rigid Connectors

1. Tenon mortise Connectors

2. Loop Connectors

3. Split Pontic Connectors

4. Cross pin and wing Connectors

RIGID CONNECTORS
Rigid Connectors in metal can be made by

Casting,

Soldering

Welding
Cast Connectors
 They are shaped in wax as a multiunit wax pattern.

 Advantages:

 Convenient and minimize the number of steps involved in

lab fabrication.

 Disadvantages:

 Fit of individual retainers may be adversely affected due to

Soldered Connectors
 They use an intermediate metal alloy whose melting temperature
is lower than that of parent metal.
 Indications
- there is distortion in a single-piece fixed partial denture casting

 Disadvantages:

 Due to dirt or surface oxides the solder does not flow at the

solder joint making it weak.

Welding method
 Here connection is created by melting adjacent surfaces with

heat or pressure.
Soldering
The filler metal has a melting point below 450 deg C

(842 deg F).

Brazing
The filler metal has a melting point above 450 deg C

(842 deg F).

NON RIGID CONNECTORS
Indications
In cases where single path of insertion cannot be

achieved due to non parallel abutments.

These connectors allow limited movement

between retainer and pontic.

Tenon Mortise Connectors
It consists of tenon (male component) prepared within the

contours of the retainer and a mortise (female component)

attached to the pontic.
Placement: Mortise is placed on the distalaspect of the

pier abutment
Design of mortise (Female component):
 Accurate alignment of the dovetail or cylindrically shaped
mortise is crucial.
 It must be parallel to the path of placement of the distal
retainer.
 Paralleling can be achieved by dental surveyor.
Design of Tenon (Male Component):
 Fabricated by autopolymerising resin and attached to the
pontic.
Prefabricated plastic component of the mortise and tenon of
a non rigid connector.
Loop Connectors
Indications:
When an existing diastema is to be maintainted in a

planned FPD.
Consists of a loop on the lingual aspect of the

prosthesis that connects adjacent retainers or pontics.

Design :
Cast from platinum gold palladium alloy wire.
Split Pontic Connectors
Indications:
Used in cases with pier abutment.

Design :
Connector is incorporated within the pontic.

The pontic is split into mesial and distal segments.

Each of these are attached to their respective retainers.

Design :
The mesial segment is

fabricated with a shoe/key.

The distal segment is fabricated

with a key way to fit over the

shoe.
The two components are

designed by aligning in a
surveyor.
Cross Pin and Wing Connectors
Indications:
Used in cases with tilted abutments.

Design :
The wing is attached to the distal retainer.

The wing along with the distal retainer are termed as

the retainer wing component.

Design :
The pontic is attached to the mesial retainer and is

designed to fit to the wing in the retainer wing

component.
The pontic along with the mesial retainer is termed as

Retainer Pontic Component.

Design :
After fabricating the retainer wing

and retainer pontic components,

they are aligned on the working cast
and the 0.7 mm pin hole is drilled
across the wing and pontic using a
drill.
Thank You